| As a woman that has lived in apartment complexes | | | | following you back to your apartment. If you are in |
| for many years, I thought I would share some safety | | | | fear of being followed, go to a friend's apartment, if |
| tips for apartment living. | | | | you know they are home. |
| An apartment complex is like a small town where you | | | | Tennis Court or Pool Area |
| have your friends, people whose faces just look | | | | The tennis court is pretty safe because you usually |
| familiar and some people that are complete strangers. | | | | are accompanied by a tennis partner. The pool area is |
| There are places in the complex where you are more | | | | also pretty safe since it is very open and everyone is |
| likely to gather with others. Some of these areas are; | | | | in plain site. Even when you are alone, an attacker will |
| the office for the apartments, the club house, the | | | | avoid an area that many people can see easily. Just |
| laundry room, the pool/tennis courts area, the | | | | make sure that when you leave the pool area, you |
| mailboxes section and the trash dumping area. Below | | | | prepare your self defense product ahead of time, prior |
| is a breakdown of the different locations and the | | | | to walking back to your apartment. This is important, |
| precautions you might consider: | | | | because, since you are in plain site, that also means |
| Office Area | | | | that a potential attacker or stalker could have also |
| This is usually the safest place of the complex | | | | been looking at you. Keep in mind, that if you are going |
| because there usually is more than one person | | | | to the pool on a regular basis, try to go at different |
| present. It is where some checks are dropped off by | | | | times of the day. This will make your schedule less |
| renters or someone is complaining about their kitchen | | | | predictable. If you are alone, try NOT to go at night. |
| sink, etc. You still need to keep your guard up, in case | | | | Laundry Room Area |
| someone for some reason gets angry, but usually the | | | | Here is another section of an apartment complex that |
| anger is targeted toward the office employee. | | | | is very dangerous. For one, it is noisy because of the |
| Mailbox Area | | | | machines. This noise can easily cover up someones |
| This area is one of the most dangerous and you | | | | scream or cry for help. For some reason, people feel |
| should always keep your guard up! Criminals keep a | | | | they need to chat with whomever else is doing |
| close eye on mailbox sections of an apartment | | | | laundry. This can be a great tool for an assailant to get |
| complex. Why? Because people are pretty predictable | | | | more information from you that you shouldn't have |
| as to when they check their mail. Attackers like the | | | | given to him in the first place! Be careful what you tell |
| fact that if they observe you for a few days, they can | | | | a complete stranger. Even if he is the cutest guy, and |
| pretty much predict when you are going to check your | | | | my, so meticulous with his neatly folded laundry! |
| mailbox. Usually people go to this section when they | | | | Impressive right? NO! Potential attackers play a caring |
| drive home from work. When you approach your | | | | role to make you feel comfortable and therefore |
| mailbox, look around you. If there are a few people | | | | letting your guard down. Again in this situation make |
| present, it is safer, but if you are the only one there, | | | | sure you have a self defense product readily available. |
| please be very cautious, especially at night. Always | | | | Trash Dump Area |
| prepare your self defense product and have it in your | | | | This area is of much concern because most people |
| hand and prepared to be used, prior to approaching | | | | dump their trash at night, after dinner. If you don't want |
| the mailbox area. | | | | to wait until morning, please be very careful about this. |
| Club House Area | | | | If your trash dump area is dark, ask the apartment |
| Some complexes have club houses to rent them out | | | | complex manager to install some kind of lighting around |
| for parties, but others have indoor recreational things | | | | it. This may prove to be difficult but it is worth a try. |
| such as pool and ping pong tables, pin ball machines, | | | | You might want to consider asking a few female |
| video games etc. Club houses can be very popular, | | | | friends, that live there, to join in your request. Always |
| especially on the weekends and in the evenings. Many | | | | take your self defense product with you and prepare it |
| times you will encounter people who are drinking | | | | to be used. Always move cautiously toward the site |
| alcoholic beverages that they brought from their | | | | and look around carefully as you approach. If you see |
| apartment. It is always wise to go to club houses with | | | | someone that you do not recognize near it, maybe |
| a friend. Once in a while you will encounter a sore | | | | leaning against their car or smoking... Just turn around |
| looser at a card game, for example, that can become | | | | and go back home. You can always try later. It is |
| violent and take it out on whomever is nearby. If you | | | | better to be cautious than hurt or killed. If your trash is |
| meet a new person, be careful on giving out your | | | | heavy, just set it down somewhere temporarily, where |
| apartment number. Be aware also if someone is | | | | you can pick it up later. |